Mavericks owner Mark Cuban acknowledged Stephon Marbury will have plenty of suitors when the Knicks finally waive him, but stopped himself before putting his hat in the ring.
“Absolutely,” Cuban said when asked the question of whether several teams will vie for the lightning-rod point guard’s services. The Mavs owner then backed up, after once being fined for tampering.
“I take that back,” Cuban said. “I’m not allowed to talk about players on other teams.”
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Marbury would make an odd addition with Jason Kidd, though Marbury has told friends he’d be willing to play shooting guard wherever he winds up. Dallas, off to a 3-7 start, uses Jose Barea as backup point guard.
Cuban understands the brass’ call on Marbury.
“That’s how a coach comes in and establishes himself,” Cuban said. “I like Steph, like him a lot. He’s a good guy. But teams have politics and issues. He’s still a good player.”
As reported first in The Post, Knicks president Donnie Walsh, Marbury and Player’s Association attorney Hal Biagas met Thursday for 45 minutes to discuss a buyout. Marbury said yesterday the ball is now in the Knicks’ court.
Last night’s 124-114 overtime defeat was the first Knicks loss in which they scored 100-plus points. Zach Randolph is the first Knick since Bob McAdoo to post back-to-back games of at least 27 points and 18 rebounds. The Knicks have lost six straight to Dallas.